The United States and Japan will step up their defence cooperation to deal with the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea as tensions in East Asia remain high, officials from the two allies said on Thursday.

NT Labor's Lawrie resigns amid probe

Her announcement on Sunday that she is stepping down as party leader follows revelations police are investigating a Supreme Court ruling to determine whether she attempted to pervert the course of justice or knowingly lied under oath during a judicial inquiry.

Earlier this month the Supreme Court dismissed Ms Lawrie's claim that Commissioner John Lawler denied her procedural fairness when he found during a 2014 inquiry that she acted unfairly and with bias by granting a 10-year zero rent lease to Unions NT of the historic Stella Maris site in Darwin.

The court also found she had colluded with her lawyers to make false statements in order to undermine and discredit Mr Lawler and the inquiry.

Ms Lawrie rejects the findings and is considering appealing the Supreme Court ruling.

She says she is proud she tried to protect the Stella Maris site, which had been maintained by unions for 40 years.

"I'm not really interested in navel-gazing and talking about what could have, should have happened," she said when asked if the decision could have been better explained to the public.

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"My own actions define me and I'll continue to be a good Territorian, working to support the people of our community," the Member for Karama said.

Labor leader-elect Michael Gunner says the party will focus on proving Labor can be trusted to deliver government at the August 2016 election.

A politician for seven years, he has never held a portfolio and will have to convince voters he's not too green to be the NT's next chief minister.

Mr Gunner says he is confident Ms Lawrie will not destabilise from the sidelines, but he concedes the Stella Maris decision process was lacking.

"I think the CLP have got form in knocking over buildings with heritage and I can understand the desire to protect the heritage of Stella Maris, but I think it's clear that the process could have been better," he said.

There will be a caucus meeting on Thursday to discuss the reshuffle of the shadow cabinet and appointment of a deputy.

Ms Lawrie will not hold a shadow portfolio because she has asked for time to deal with her legal situation.

Her departure is not absolution for the party, Attorney-General John Elferink said.

"Delia went to the Supreme Court looking for justice and she got it in spades."